Our county commissioners are taking a critical look at the county’s three golf courses, focusing most attention on the money-losing Savannahs course on north Merritt Island. They should.

But if they decide to abandon the Savannahs, homeowners there will see property values nosedive. Residents who golf will lose out on what may have been the main reason they moved there. If the county gives up on the Savannahs, it kills the golf course.

Foremost, having this golf course and the other two fits perfectly with the county charter’s primary directive to provide “for the most common benefits to all our inhabitants.”

Government is not just roads and trash and nickel-dime political squabbles. Quality of life matters too. Residents treasure the amenities and recreation unique to Brevard, as do the visitors who provide much of Brevard’s income. Savannahs is a great place to enjoy nature and play golf. That’s valuable in our community.

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John Byron(Photo: FLORIDA TODAY)

Second, recent and projected residential development in north county — Merritt Island in particular — offers the golf course an expanding customer base that sound management and better marketing can capture.

Third benefit: keeping the course open will keep the county from losing more money than it is now.

Follow me on this. There are 287 properties in the Savannahs development. Closing the golf course is certain to lower the development's home values. That would impact its tax base a serious amount in the negative direction, an amount likely to be more than the current operating loss at the golf course. So shuttering the golf operation there will almost certainly be more costly to the county than keeping it, even in its current condition.

The money-smart thing to do is manage the golf course competently and turn it into a profit center. This keeps high property values on the tax rolls, and it gives Savannahs homeowners a happy ending instead of a financial mugging.

How do we make the Savannahs golf course a winner?

• Make decisions based on what’s best for Brevard residents, not on what some outside consultant might see from a distance;

• Give the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation full management responsibility, but also hold its leadership accountable for results;

• Hire the talent needed to run it properly;

• Establish a multi-year development plan with benchmarks and milestones.

•​​​​​​​ Revamp the course layout enough to work around perennial flooding spots;

•​​​​​​​ Revitalize the pro shop, reopen the clubhouse, and price a round of golf for profit;

· Market the course and the clubhouse aggressively.

Brevard’s Board of County Commissioners has three ways to deal with the Savannahs:

•​​​​​​​ Muddle through as before: an irresponsible idea that benefits no one;

•​​​​​​​ End county involvement, conceding that county government can’t run a golf course, even one it got for free;

•​​​​​​​ Take over direct management of the Savannahs and do it right for a change. This is the wise choice.

We have an excellent opportunity to turn the Savannahs into a first-class operation that makes money for the county. The commission, the county manager and the Department of Parks and Recreation need to stand tall in the tee box and bring this beautiful community asset to its full potential.